It's Sunday and I'm back from hiatus, which means it's time for another installment of Rushmore Sunday -- a position by position look at the most important players in NFC East history. So far, I've taken a look at quarterbacks, cornerbacks, talent evaluators, running backs, wide receivers and safeties. This week, let's look at arguably the most important offensive players besides the QB -- the offensive line.

The Rushmore rules are simple: pick the four who most deserve being part of the division pantheon. No more than four, no fewer than four. They don't necessarily have to be "the best" in the literal sense of the word, but they need to be an important part of the game's lore. This week's task is more challenging than usual because a) there are no stats for an offensive lineman, and b) there are five positions to consider.

The offensive linemen:

• Russ Grimm, Washington Redskins -- One of the original Hogs, Grimm was 6-3 and 275, which is actually small by today's standards. At the time, he was a behemoth -- a big ugly whose speed and strength helped him dominate defensive tackles. He anchored the Skins line, which paved the way to four Super Bowl appearances. He was inducted to the Hall of Fame in 2010.
• Rayfield Wright, Dallas Cowboys -- Chosen in the 7th round of the 1967 draft, Wright was considered a longshot to make the roster. During his first few seasons, he stayed on the team by serving at tight end, defensive end and offensive tackle. He finally got a chance to start on the offensive line due to a teammate's injury, and he held that job for a decade. Dubbed "Big Cat" for his agility, he was first or second team All-NFL six times. He entered the Hall of Fame in 2006.
• Ralph Neely, Dallas Cowboys -- Drafted by the Baltimore Colts, the Cowboys acquired his rights in a trade. He took over the right tackle spot in 1965 and held it until a knee injury gave Wright (see above) an opportunity. After recovering, he played right guard for a season, and then left tackle until 1977. He was selected All-NFL four times, and was named to the NFL 1960s All-Decade team. While it hasn't happened yet, he arguably deserves to join Wright in the Hall.
• Larry Allen, Dallas Cowboys -- As much as it pains me to put a third Cowboy on this list, Allen deserves this spot. Possibly the strongest player in NFL history, Allen could squat 900 pounds and benched more than 700. He played in 11 Pro Bowls at three different offensive line positions, and was All-Pro 7 times. He appeared in more Pro Bowls than any other Dallas Cowboys offensive player and helped Dallas win Super Bowl XXX. And oh yeah, he was on the NFL's All-Decade teams for the 1990s and the 2000s.
  

These are the guys who were close to the pantheon, but not quite there. While they don't get their likeness dynamited into the side of a cliff, they at least rate a high-quality commemorative plaque hung at a popular viewing area. The plaques go to:

• Joe Jacoby, Washington Redskins
• John Runyan, Philadelphia Eagles
• Stan Walters, Philadelphia Eagles
• Jim Lachey, Washington Redskins
• Mark Stepnoski, Dallas Cowboys
  

So, that's the Rushmore List of NFC East offensive linemen. Who should move from the "commemorative plaques" section and who should come down from the cliff? Who's not on the list that should be there? Post your list in the comments. Just remember, you get only four selections, so if you want to add someone, one of the guys I chose needs to come down. There's only room for four.

With training camps set to open in a couple, here's what NFC East teams have been up to over the past week:

New York Giants

• ESPN analyst Ron Jaworski chose Giants QB Eli Manning as the NFL's 5th best quarterback. Jaws said Manning improved his progression reads in 2011, calling Manning, "...one of the smartest, most aware quarterbacks in the NFL." Ahead of Manning: Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Peyton Manning and Aaron Rodgers. I think Jaws has this one about right. You could argue for maybe Matthew Stafford ahead of Eli, but two Super Bowl rings make a difference. Former Giants receiver Amani Toomer disagrees -- he thinks Tony Romo is the best QB in the NFC East. Which is also arguable, but I'd still take Manning.
• Giants linebacker Adrian Tracy is switching from linebacker to defensive end where he played at William & Mary. At 6-2 and 245, Tracy is undersized, but he has reportedly dropped body fat and increased strength in preparation for the move. He's expected to be a speed rusher who will provide breaks for Justin Tuck, Jason Pierre-Paul and Osi Umenyiora. The Giants converted Tracy to linebacker after picking him in the 6th round in 2010. Now he's switching back.
  

Philadelphia Eagles

• Michael Vick got married this summer in Miami Beach. Vick reportedly spent $300k on security, which included uniformed police officers taking cameras and cell phones at the door.
• ESPN's Adam Schefter mused recently that he thinks Andy Reid will remain as the team's head coach as long as he wants the job. He does not believe Jeffrey Lurie will fire the mustachioed Reid. Which gives those Eagles fans who haven't liked the team's performance in recent years a serious case of heartburn.
  

• Rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III remains unsigned, but there's no acrimony between the two sides. Apparently they're being slowed by "offset language," which really shouldn't hold anything up because no one wants the language to be triggered anyway. Basically, "offset language" details how much the Redskins would have to continue paying Griffin if he's released in the next four seasons and then signs with another team. If this language comes into play, it's an abject disaster for both Griffin and the Skins.
• Don't believe any chatter you may have heard about Fred Davis getting a long-term contract before the season. Considering Davis's off-field escapades last season -- as well as his courtroom drama in the offseason -- Washington will wait to see if Davis can make it through the season without incident before considering him for a multi-year deal. Don't be shocked if this is his last season in burgundy and gold.
  

Dallas Cowboys

• Dallas remains in the market for a third receiver after missing out on Baylor wideout Josh Gordon in the supplemental draft. The Cowboys were rumored to be interested in the talented but troubled Gordon, who possesses big-time ability. The Cleveland Browns landed Gordon with their 2nd round pick from next year.
• The Cowboys traded up to get LSU cornerback and return man Morris Claiborne, but Claiborne remains unsigned and his agent is making noise that he might not sign before training camp opens on July 25. Only 2 of the top 10 picks have signed. Like Griffin and the Skins, Claiborne's deal is being slowed by offset language.
• Fantasy players looking for a sleeper value pick should consider Dallas RB DeMarco Murray. Murray took over the starting role last season and performed admirably until he sustained an ankle injury. He's healthy now, and the Cowboys expect him to be their workhorse ball carrier. If he can stay healthy, expect BIG numbers from #29.
  

It's Sunday, which means it's time for another installment of Rushmore Sunday -- a position by position look at the most important players in NFC East history. So far, I've taken a look at quarterbacks, cornerbacks, talent evaluators, running backs and wide receivers. This week, let's turn to the last line of the defense -- the multi-faceted guys who are supposed to cover tight ends, running backs and receivers one-on-one, to be effective pass rushers, to be stout in run support, and to be the last line of defense and prevent big plays: the Safeties.

The Rushmore rules are simple: pick the four who most deserve being part of the division pantheon. No more than four, no fewer than four. They don't necessarily have to be "the best" in the literal sense of the word, but they need to be an important part of the game's lore.

The safeties:

• Ken Houston, Washington Redskins -- Houston was arguably the game's all-time best safety. He started his career in Houston, spending six years with the Oilers before being traded to Washington for five not-very-memorable players. He played eight more years with the Skins. Houston made the equivalent of 12 consecutive Pro Bowls, and was selected All-Pro three times. He was a ball hawk (49 interceptions and 21 recovered fumbles), who also returned kickoffs and punts at various times in his career. He was superb in coverage and a terror in run defense. His signature play was a colossal hit on Cowboys running back Walt Garrison at the goal line. My best memory of Houston was the time he knocked Dallas fullback Robert Newhouse over the Dallas bench. He retired after the 1980 season and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1986.
• Brian Dawkins, Philadelphia Eagles -- A second round pick in 1996, Dawkins took over the starting free safety position and didn't relinquish it until he departed in 2009 for Denver's free agent dollars. He and fellow rookies Bobby Taylor and Troy Vincent formed an Eagles secondary that was the backbone of one of the league's top defenses for nearly a decade. He went to nine Pro Bowls, and a Super Bowl (a loss to the Patriots). His final game with the Eagles was the 2008 NFC Championship game -- a loss to the Kurt Warner-led Arizona Cardinals. Known as a big hitter and fierce competitor, Dawkins in 2002 became the first player in NFL history to record a sack, an interception, a forced fumble and a touchdown reception in the same game.
• Cliff Harris, Dallas Cowboys -- Undrafted in 1970 (he had attended a tiny NAIA university), Harris received a training camp invitation from the Cowboys where he outplayed the team's third round pick, Charlie Waters. Harris ended up missing a chunk of the regular season because of military duties, but came back to play in the team's Super Bowl VI win over the Dolphins. He remained the team's starting safety until he retired after the 1979 season. In his career, he played in five Super Bowls, went to six consecutive Pro Bowls and was voted All-Pro four times. A devastating hitter, Harris was called "Captain Crash." He wore place kicker pads in an effort to maintain speed and quickness. His hard hitting intimidated opposing offenses and ushered in an era of big hitting safeties.
• Darren Woodson, Dallas Cowboys -- In many ways, Woodson owes his career to a scouting trip to Arizona State by then-Cowboys defensive coordinator Dave Campo. Largely dismissed as an undersized linebacker, Campo saw a future safety. Dallas snagged him in the second round, gave him a year on special teams, and then promoted him to the starting strong safety role. Woodson promptly set the team record for tackles by a defensive back. Woodson had the run-stuffing skills of a linebacker, and the pass-coverage chops of a corner. In nickel situations, he typically covered the slot receiver -- a job usually done by cornerbacks. The Cowboys often positioned him close to the line of scrimmage where he could play the run like a linebacker, attack the QB, or use his speed to get back in coverage. He went to five Pro Bowls and was named to three All-Pro teams. He was part of all three Dallas Super Bowl championships in the 1990s. In 2002, Woodson set the franchise career tackles record -- a feat mostly overlooked because it happened in the same game that teammate Emmit Smith set the NFL's all-time rushing record.

Mel Renfro, DAL

Sean Taylor, WAS

Charlie Waters, DAL

Emlen Tunnell, NYG

Comemorative Plaques

These are the guys who were close to the pantheon, but not quite there. While they don't get their likeness dynamited into the side of a cliff, they at least rate a high-quality commemorative plaque hung at a popular viewing area. The plaques go to:

• Mel Renfro, Dallas Cowboys
• Sean Taylor, Washington Redskins
• Charlie Waters, Dallas Cowboys
• Emlen Tunnell New York giants

So, that's the Rushmore List of NFC East safeties. Who should move from the "commemorative plaques" section and who should come down from the cliff? Who's not on the "commemorative plaques" list that should be there? Post your list in the comments. Just remember, you get only four selections, so if you want to add someone, one of the guys I chose needs to come down. There's only room for four.

While we're still in the longest, least newsy part of the NFL offseason, there was still lots going on in the NFC East. Here are some items that caught my eye over the past week:

New York Giants

• Giants coach Tom Coughlin said the team has no interest in re-signing Plaxico Burress. Let's see, since helping the Giants win a Super Bowl, the receiver shot himself in a crowded nightclub using an illegal handgun, spent time in prison, insulted the coach in interviews, and used the team to increase the offer he got from the Jets. File this one in the "dog bites man" category. 
• Defensive end Osi Umenyiora was happy when he agreed to a new contract with the team. The core of the new deal appears to be a simple raise -- it looks like he'll still be eligible for free agency next offseason. Instead of the $4 million he was due to receive in the upcoming season, he's going to get $6 million to $7 million. There's a voidable year tacked on to help the Giants spread cap effects of the additional money.

Philadelphia Eagles

• Cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha told the Philadelphia Inquirer that his first season with the Eagles wasn't up to his standards and said he's working hard to return to the level he expects of himself. He also said he came to Philly because the Eagles want to win a championship and because he craved accountability. In my view, the Eagles were much better than their 8-8 record. Don't be surprised if they're among the league's better teams record-wise this fall.
• In the "what the heck is he thinking" category, defensive end Jason Babin returned from bear hunting in Alaska and told reporters of his plans to run with the bulls in Pamplona. He says he's studied the bulls and how they run on cobblestone and has mapped out a strategy to prevent injury. Considering he had 18 sacks last year, Philly's coaching staff would likely prefer that he not go running over cobblestones in front of charging bulls.

Dallas Cowboys

• Former Cowboys and Eagles receiver Terrell Owens has likely finished his professional football career by quitting on and getting released by his Indoor Football League team. Great player, but not a team guy. Another one for the "dog bites man" file.
• Jerry Jones says they team will not trade cornerback Mike Jenkins no matter how many times he asks. Jenkins isn't happy about being made a reserve when the team drafted Morris Claiborne.
• Jones said the team is open to using Dez Bryant as a punt returner again. Bryant was injured on a punt return in the first game of the season, and didn't return kicks the rest of the season. I'm in favor of this. I understand the argument that Bryant has tremendous value as a receiver, but he's an electric performer who can change a game when he as the ball in his hands. This is another way he can help the Cowboys win.
• Greg Cosell from NFL Films wrote an interesting piece about QB Tony Romo. He points out some of Romo's flaws, but concludes that Romo is  one of the game's 10 best QBs. For my money, Cosell is one of the best NFL analysts in the business.

Washington Redskins

• Announced they're going to grow the "greatest Redskins" list by 10, going from 70 to 80. The 10 additions will be voted on by fans and will come from the only the past decade. I actually don't like this idea much. Have there really been 10 players in the past decade who deserve to be on an all-franchise team? Not so much.
• Robert Griffin III's jersey was the most popular jersey on NFLShop.com in May. In April, he was third behind Petyon Manning and Tim Tebow. Skins fans hope RGIII will be as good as the hype.
• You probably heard the story about linebacker Brian Banks, a top prospect who got convicted of rape and spent 10 years in prison because his accuser lied -- flat out made up the story that Banks raped her. The Redskins are one of four teams (so far) to offer Banks a tryout.
• The most closely scrutinized player at OTA's last week (other than RGIII) was tight end Chris Cooley. He's had his injury issues, and he's owed $6.2 million for next season -- if he makes the team. Fred Davis is the team's #1, and they're converting Niles Paul from WR. Cooley has to show coaches that he can be effective and stay healthy if he hopes to a) return to the team next season, and b) return without taking a sizable pay cut.

Penn law professor Stephen Burbank, who served as arbitrator on appeals of the NFL's decision to strip the Redskins and Cowboys of a combined $46 million in cap room over the next two years, ruled against the teams earlier this week. The reasoning behind Burbank's decision was almost as surprising to me as the decision itself, and shines a spotlight on the spinelessness of the players union in this instance.

I didn't think this would be a slam-dunk case for the Skins and Cowboys, but I thought they had a significantly stronger argument than the league. To summarize:

1. The collective bargaining agreement explicitly called for salary caps in all years covered by the CBA except the final season, which was to be uncapped. It didn't include language allowing for a private agreement among owners to operate within the "spirit" of the salary cap. 
2. The league approved each contract at the time. Contract reviews, which must occur with every player contract, is intended to ensure that every contract complies with the CBA. Every contract was approved by the league -- essentially a declaration that the contracts fully complied with the collective bargaining agreement.
3. The league admitted that the teams had broken no rules and done nothing wrong.
4. Any agreement among owners to limit salaries during an uncapped year amounted to illegal collusion.

How did the league win? They did it with two documents. The first was a "reallocation" letter signed by Commish Roger Goodell and players union executive director DeMaurice Smith. That letter was an agreement between the NFL and the union to redistribute $46 million in cap money from Dallas and Washington to the rest of the teams. The second document was a resolution stating that the letter was valid and that its terms would be ratified into the collective bargaining agreement. That resolution was approved 29-2 (Dallas and Washington being the two dissenting votes) with one abstention.

This was a neat legal trick that Burbank found persuasive. In his decision, he wrote that if those documents were found to be valid, the teams' appeals "must fail as a matter of law." Then he decided the documents were valid.

Those four spiffy arguments never mattered in Burbank's decision. He briefly addressed the collusion issue in a manner that seems specious at best. He wrote that IF collusion did occur, it would have been a violation of the previous collective bargaining agreement, which no longer applies. The new CBA protects owners from claims of collusion and therefore the Skins and Cowboys couldn't use that argument in this case.

Umm, what?

The owners make an illegal agreement to limit salaries during the uncapped year, and then punish the two teams that refused to comply. And the teams being punished can't use evidence of that illegal agreement in their appeal. There's a bizarre circularity to that argument that's becoming all to familiar for NFL fans.

The Skins and Cowboys issued a statement saying they'll pursue the issue no further. This is logical since "further" would be suing the league and going to court, which would be the very definition of killing the goose that lays the golden egg.

When news of the punishment broke on the eve of free agency, one of my biggest questions was this: Why on earth would the players union sign off on something like this? It seemed an obvious case of collusion, which directly took money out its members pockets in 2010. Agreeing to that "reallocation" was just one more piece of evidence that the players union lacked a spine.

Then this week there was finally a sign of spine. Apparently, when they were working out details on that letter of reallocation, Goodell...umm...forgot to mention that the owners had illegally agreed to a $123 million salary cap. So, the union has filed a complaint of collusion against the owners. That letter will be a thorny legal issue to circumvent, but at least someone is standing up to Goodell's kangaroo court league. Unfortunately for Skins and Cowboys fans, the union appears to be standing up a few months too late.

It's Sunday, which means it's time for another installment of Rushmore Sunday -- a position by position look at the most important players in NFC East history. So far, I've taken a look at quarterbacks, cornerbacks, talent evaluators, and running backs. This week, let's turn to the guys who generate more excitement per touch than any other position: the deep threats, the defense stretchers, the big-play guys -- the wide receivers.

The Rushmore rules are simple: pick the four who most deserve being part of the division pantheon. No more than four, no fewer than four. They don't necessarily have to be "the best" in the literal sense of the word, but they need to be an important part of the game's lore.

The wide receivers:

• Michael Irvin, Dallas Cowboys -- His numbers are good, but not spectacular. But anyone who doubts that Irvin was a great wide receiver needs to do some more work on their football knowledge. He was a reliable weapon in a diversified offense that featured the running of Emmitt Smith and the passing of Troy Aikman. He made big plays on a regular basis and gave the Cowboys a swagger and bragadociousness that helped intimidate opponents before they even took the field. Off-field troubles and injuries prematurely ended his career, and put some tarnish on the luster of his play. But if you're listing greats at WR, it won't take long before Irvin's name comes up.
• Art Monk, Washington Redskins -- It preposterously took Monk years to get into the Hall of Fame, in part because his quiet consistency is something underrated in today's era of flash and style, and in part because Monk was unfairly judged by the pass-happy time (and receiver numbers) that was ushered in at the tail end of his career. Fact is, Monk was a prolific receiver during a time before the league put in rules to make the NFL a passing league. The list of 100-reception seasons is illustrative. Lionel Taylor (1961) and Charley Hennigan (1968) each topped 100 catches in a season in the AFL. Then there's a nearly two-decade gap before Monk caught 106 passes in 1984. It took another 6 years before the next receiver got to 100 (Jerry Rice), and two more after that before Sterling Sharpe topped Monk's 106 receptions. As the league went increasingly pass happy, the 100-reception season became common, but Monk was there first -- nearly a decade before "everyone" started doing it. During the time-span of Monk's career (1980-1995), he was 2nd behind Jerry Rice in receptions and receiving yards, and was 5th in receving TDs.
• Harold Carmichael, Philadelphia Eagles -- Standing nearly 6-8, Carmichael was absurdly out-sized for the position. He went to four Pro Bowls and was named to the league's All-Decade team for the 1970s. He helped the Eagles reach the Super Bowl in 1980. His numbers aren't outlandish by today's standards, but he still stands 17th all-time in TD catches. My memories of Carmichael mostly involve him outleaping smaller Redskins cornerbacks to catch the ball. And I of course remember his epic battles with Washington's diminutive Pat Fischer, who was nearly a foot smaller.
• Charley Taylor, Washington Redskins -- Drafted as a running back, Taylor converted to receiver and became one of the game's all-time greats. He accumulated 649 receptions, 9110 receiving yards, and 79 receiving TDs. Those numbers seem almost meager by today's standards, but when he called it a career, he was 1st all-time in receptions, 4th in receiving yards, and 7th in receiving TDs. 

Commemorative Plaques

These are the guys who were close to the pantheon, but not quite there. While they don't get their likeness dynamited into the side of a cliff, they at least rate a high-quality commemorative plaque hung at a popular viewing area. The plaques go to:

• Gary Clark, Washington Redskins
• Bob Hayes, Dallas Cowboys
• Bobby Mitchell, Washington Redskins
• Drew Pearson, Dallas Cowboys

So, that's the Rushmore List of NFC East wide receivers. Who should move from the "commemorative plaques" section and who should come down from the cliff? Who's not on the "commemorative plaques" list that should be there? Post your list in the comments. Just remember, you get only four selections, so if you want to add someone, one of the guys I chose needs to come down. There's only room for four.